Creative pay 2026
Copywriter salary in Maryland (2026)
Writers and copywriters in Maryland earn a median $104,330 a year ($50.16 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 36% more than the US median of $76,910, and 2nd-highest of 44 states and territories with published figures. It is 1.8 times the median for all jobs in Maryland.
- $104,330median a year in Maryland
- $50.16median an hour
- +36%vs the US median ($76,910)
- 540employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a copywriter in Maryland?
Half of writers and copywriters in Maryland earn between $77,020 and $140,670. Pay is bunched more tightly than nationally: the 90th percentile is 2.8 times the 10th, against 3.2 times across the US.
| 10th percentile | $59,560 | $44,310 | $28.64 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $77,020 | $58,230 | $37.03 |
| Median | $104,330 | $76,910 | $50.16 |
| 75th | $140,670 | $101,950 | $67.63 |
| 90th percentile | $165,050 | $139,870 | $79.35 |
The mean (average) is $109,650, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Maryland compare with other states?
Maryland is in the top five for writers and copywriters' pay. Only District of Columbia pays more.
| Pennsylvania | $77,410 | −26% | 1,080 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $85,000 | −19% | 1,530 |
| West Virginia | $64,410 | −38% | 110 |
| District of Columbia | $129,300 | +24% | 1,050 |
Which cities in Maryland pay writers and copywriters best?
Of the 3 metro areas in Maryland where BLS publishes a median for the job, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays most, at $108,460, 4% above the state median.
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,060 | $108,460 | $52.14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 560 | $84,130 | $40.45 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 240 | $87,020 | $41.84 |
How many writers and copywriters work in Maryland?
BLS estimates 540 employee jobs, 0.2 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is rarer here than nationally: a location quotient of 0.63, where 1 is the US average.
Employees only. BLS does not count the self-employed, who are a large share of several creative jobs.
What do other creative jobs pay in Maryland?
Copywriter is the best-paid of these creative jobs in Maryland.
| UX/UI designer | $96,760 | 1,310 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $85,830 | 170 |
| Video editor | $78,380 | 250 |
| Graphic designer | $75,120 | 3,050 |
| Videographer | $65,870 | 290 |
| Photographer | $46,450 | 790 |
What do freelance writers and copywriters charge?
Upwork, copywriters list $19 to $45 an hour, worldwide. Maryland's employee median of $50.16 an hour is above that range, and a freelancer also has to cover unpaid hours, kit and tax. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average copywriter salary in Maryland?
The median is $104,330 a year and the mean is $109,650, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 540 employee jobs.
How much does a copywriter make an hour in Maryland?
The median hourly wage is $50.16. The bottom 10% earn under $28.64 and the top 10% over $79.35.
What does a starting copywriter earn in Maryland?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of writers and copywriters in Maryland earn under $77,020 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $59,560, which is the nearest guide to starting pay.
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Where do these numbers come from?
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (published 15 May 2026). Occupation 27-3043, Writers and Authors. Employees only; annual figures are hourly times 2,080.
n = 540 jobs in the Maryland estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Copywriter pay in other states
- District of Columbia $129,300
- Connecticut $98,460
- Louisiana $89,520
- California $86,480
- Washington $85,700
- Massachusetts $85,260
- Virginia $85,000
- New Jersey $81,590
- Oregon $80,540
- Pennsylvania $77,410
- Colorado $76,830
- Indiana $75,820